Neighbourhood – Dufferin Grove

Located in the west end of Toronto's central core lies Dufferin Grove, bordered by Bloor Street West to the north, Ossington Ave to the east, College Street to the south, and Dufferin Street to the west. Perhaps few city neighbourhoods can claim as much choice when it comes to the retail experience that surrounds it.

While reminants of its working class roots still exist, this neighbourhood wears its diversity, in both culture and class, with pride. With a strong Potuguese community still firmly embedded in the community, young professionals and families have been quickly snapping up any available turn of the century Victorian and Edwardian home that hits the market.

The centre of the neighbourhood is the ever popular Dufferin Grove Park, known to local residents as the big backyard. It has played a pivotal role in revitalizing the surrounding neighbourhood and creating a strong sense of community thanks to the ‘Friends of Dufferin Grove Park’, the organization that plans most park events and activities. It includes a community pizza oven, a music circle, a weekly organic market, a campfire, a community flower and vegetable garden, live theatre, a summer music festival, arts and crafts classes, and a naturalization project. It also has traditional recreational facilities, including tennis courts, a basketball court, a wading pool, an artificial ice rink, and a playing field.

This neighbourhood has recently seen an influx of specialty food shops and several small, but popular, boutique restaurants and while there is excellent shopping for everyday household needs, the more serious shopper is likely to head to the nearby Dufferin Mall which is home to several national department store chains, over 100 retail outlets, plus medical and dental offices. To the south, on College Street is The West-End YMCA which has a gymnasium, a swimming pool, and community programs. On the northern border is The Bloor/Gladstone Public Library which also offers community-based programs.

The neighbourhood is particularly transit friendly. The Bloor subway line, and several bus and streetcar routes can whisk you around efficiently.